Bail raised to $2.3M for man accused of attacking children at Target

The Record

Friday

Aug 30, 2019 at 8:53 PM

STOCKTON — The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office has raised the bail of a 51-year-old Galt man to $2.3 million after he was arrested on suspicion of punching two children in the head inside a Target store in Lodi on Wednesday evening.

Jeff Lee Hardcastle has been charged with three felonies and two misdemeanors, including suspicion of assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury and child abuse, the DA’s Office reported Friday.

Additionally, Hardcastle has two prior strike convictions and prison priors. Bail was initially set at $310,000 set when he was taken into custody on Wednesday.

Friday was Hardcastle’s first appearance in the Lodi branch of Superior Court and he is scheduled to return at 8:15 a.m. on Sept. 16.

“The District Attorney reaffirms today that the San Joaquin District Attorney’s Office takes very seriously any assault committed upon a child and will prosecute these crimes to the full extent of the law,” the DA’s Office said in a statement.

Lodi police responded to the department store in west Lodi at 2355 W. Kettleman Lane and found the alleged assailant behind the business before taking him into custody.

The victims, ages 5 and 11, are expected to make a full recovery, and authorities called the assault “completely unprovoked.”

“We are unsure of Hardcastle’s motive,” Lodi police said in a statement. Hardcastle was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the attack.

Hardcastle remains in custody at the San Joaquin County Jail.

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